Free Shame On Me by Cassie Maria Page B

off?”
    “Kate loves you, she’ll give you a weekend off.”
    He’s right. I help Kate out with different odd jobs around the bar so she would let me have off with no questions asked.
    “I’ll let her know tomorrow.”
    “When do I get to meet your parents?”
    “Are you absolutely sure that you want to meet them?”
    “Darlin’.” I can hear he’s getting impatient so I finally give in and agree.
    “I’ll give them a call later and set up dinner on Sunday.”
    “Great.”
    We snuggle up together and the hammock slowly rocks us to sleep. I wait until Ethan leaves the next morning before I call my parents.
    ****
    “Hi Daddy, is Mom home?”
    “Hey princess, you wanna talk to her?”
    “I want to talk to both of you. Can she grab a phone too?”
    “Sure.” I hear him yell for mom to pick up the line.
    “Hi Ma.”
    “Is this my Amelia?” My mom can be dramatic when she wants to.
    “Who else would call you ma?”
    “You never know, I was pretty wild in the ‘80s wasn’t I David?”
    “Eww guys, please no weird sex stories today.”
    “Oh come on you have time for one. Okay let me see, which one should we tell Dave? Have you heard about the jellyfish room in the aquarium? Well-”
    “I met someone and he wants to meet both of you,” I say in a rush in an attempt to cut her off before she can get into her story. Its quiet for a long time and I know they’re staring at each other having a complete conversation that no one else is privy to. Finally my mom breaks the silence.
    “David she’s bringing home a boy.”
    “Mom, Ethan isn’t a boy and can you please not embarrass me?”
    “How else will we get to know your gentleman caller if I don’t embarrass you?”
    “That’s exactly what I mean! Please control your weirdness at least until our one year anniversary.”
    “Amelia I taught you better than that! You get them hooked in the bedroom and they’ll never leave.”
    “Mom,” I whine
    “Okay Celina, leave the girl alone. We promise to be good as long as you tell us about him.”
    “Thanks Daddy. He’s an anesthetist, home owner, has a car, is twenty-eight years old, has no children, and is very sweet.”
    “Blah, blah, blah. Give me some details on how he looks.” Of course my mom wants to know how he looks.
    “He’s tall, hazel eyes, dark hair, and Caucasian. I’m only telling you that he’s white because I know that Mom doesn’t handle surprises well and will start asking weird questions.”
    “So I’m a curious person. There is no crime in that, as long as I’m respectful. How do you feel about him? There are a few cultural differences that you’ll have to deal with, are you okay with that?”
    “I’m falling deeper in love with him everyday. He makes it difficult not to love him. I know we have cultural differences but we believe in the same God and agree on most moral issues. If we get as far as marriage and babies then we’ll discuss both subjects thoroughly before hand.”
    “Babies. She said babies David. We have a chance of spoiling grandchildren.” Mom sniffles.
    “Yeah,” Dad says softly. I roll my eyes but I understand their sentiment. My parents wanted lots of children but complications arose during birth and she was forced to have an emergency hysterectomy.
    “That is a big maybe you guys.”
    “So when are you bringing him by so we can get the ball rolling?”
    “What ball?”
    “The one that fast forwards you to marriage and babies.”
    “Mom we’re nowhere near marriage and babies.”
    “So when are you bringing him over?”
    “How’s Sunday at six?”
    “Sounds great! Is there anything he doesn’t eat?”
    “No.”
    “A man after my own heart. C’mon Dave we have to go shopping. See you Sunday Amelia.”
    “See you Sunday.”
    “Later Princess.”

    Chapter Twelve
    Ethan Embraces the Weirdness
    Ethan
    I glance over at Mia and see she’s fidgeting with her shirt for the billionth time. “If you don’t stop acting so nervous I’m